Sweet Melissa's Cafe

Excellent place for dinner, which is why we went. I had the best tenderloin I have ever had, paired with some cooked spinach and garlic mashed potatoes, it's going on my list for the best dishes of all time. I had the octopus as a small dish, and it was average. Atmosphere felt more like a higher-class restaurant than a "café" like the name suggested. My goat cheese-cheesecake with crushed pistachios was absolutely superb. Prices were high, but fair considering the quality of the food.

Very delicious and unique dishes, french inspired. The set menus for holidays like New Year's are an extra special treat. Hearing Melissa communicate with the chefs from the open kitchen gives a rare experience that directly connects you to the artists behind the decadent dishes.

Marvelous!! Fish stew is common food. You can find it up and down the coasts and throughout the islands. Fresh ingredients, good seafood, etc. And it's all good to very good. What chef Melissa uses is the best shellfish, the best fish, the best spices , tomatoes and wine.. and cooks it all perfectly! Tender scallops, great, plump mussels and clams, fresh shrimp and classic, perfectly done fish fillets. Garlic was not raw or bitter. Sausage was a nice counterpoint and not overpowering. You were glad they served it with grilled bread so you could sop up every single drop of the sauce. Our Server was quiet, professional and wore a mask and gloves. Social distancing and outside seating are part of the program. A little more expensive, but we'll worth it! Take your best date and go enjoy the soft piano jazz and ambclassic, We'll be going back!

It's not often that you find a restaurant while traveling that you love so much you go back for a second time! Melissa's restaurant is not your average Sanibel "grouper" sandwich place. Her food is inspired, creative and sooooo good. As reviewed below it's way above 5 stars!! I enjoyed the James Beard Award Winning Fish Stew both times; IT WAS THAT GOOD! Creative menu offerings like crispy sweetbreads and goat cheese cheesecake. The night we were there they had carrot cake with triple cheese frosting. Who does that!?
They offer intimate outdoor dining and our servers was excellent with a delightful personality. I cannot say enough great things about this chef and restaurant. Try it you will not be disappointed. One of the best restaurants ever! I want to go back to Sanibel just for Sweet Melissa's

I enjoy the food here so much I can’t deduct a single star. From the salads, to the cheese plate to our main courses, absolutely everything was wonderful. Our only compliant was the inside is very loud. We’re going a second time before we head home. Here’s a picture of the fish stew and scallops.

We went again tonight. They double checked with us multiple times before our first due to our party size. They put us on the patio which had a lovely atmosphere. Our server was amazing. Our food was even better than last week. Melissa stopped at every table tonight. My friends raved about the beef tartare. The fish stew was again a big hit.

Dinner, service ambiance fabulous. Hannah was efficient and very nice. Really enjoyed the octopus appetizer. It was tender and delicious.
The scallop entree was perfect with risotto. Shared the key lime bread pudding. It was really tasty.

Warm, friendly atmosphere, accommodating service, well made drinks, fresh creative food. My husband had the duck; very good! I had to try the award winning fish stew and was not disappointed. Packed full of melt in your mouth seafood. I love that they offer a petit portion which was a perfect size for me.

If you're looking for elevated dinning without a cookie-cutter menu this is the place.

One of my favorite restaurants on Sanibel. It is a bit pricey relative to other places on the island, but the quality is good. Every time I've eaten here the service has been wonderful as well.
Only feedback I'd give is I wish they had more vegetarian/vegan options so friends that visit can enjoy.

Lovely place to host our small birthday dinner. The food was delicious, service superb, and the atmosphere was exactly what you'd expect from Sanibel, perfect.

Nice place, excellent food and attention. Marc, the waiter was helpful and very kind.
The prices were also very reasonable.

DON’T MISS THIS RESTAURANT!

Very simply, this was one of the finest meals we have ever had. The atmosphere is charming and the service was perfect. To say the food was five star just doesn’t quite do it justice. It is evident they only use top grade ingredients. However, the unparalleled pairing of items combined with an extraordinarily talented chef is what sets the bar so high.

We had a fabulous dinner at Sweet Melissa's. It was our first time, we arrived on the later side so no tables were available but we sat at the bar and had amazing service from the nicest bartender. The menu is on the smaller side, however, everything is delicious and on more of the "gourmet" side, which we love. We shared four plates, three of which were specials that evening. The asparagus soup, octopus (which was some of the best we ever had), an heirloom tomato and watermelon salad, and lastly the squash blossoms which are on their menu. Everything was a repeat and we can't wait to come back!

The best dining experience I’ve had in a long time. Each course had pleasant surprises & interesting twists. You can tell this is a kitchen that truly takes pride in what they put out. Thank you for a memorable evening!

This place is amazing the food was so high end and every bite got better and better. The atmosphere was great as well and they had a wonderful live musician. Our server was Frank and he was such a chill dude who was really helpful and passionate about the food at Sweet Melissa’s. All in all a wonderful place to eat and enjoy your loved ones.

By far my favorite restaurant I sampled while on the island. I was very impressed with the presentation of the dishes as well as their complex and unique flavors. I highly recommend the beef tenderloin cooked to medium rare. It was cooked and seasoned perfectly-- melted in the mouth. The romaine salad was beautifully presented and was a fresh take on a traditional salad. For dessert, you cannot go wrong with the apple strudel. Came out piping hot with a scoop of ice cream on the side. The crunchy pastry and soft ice cream was the perfect combination. It was one of the best desserts I've had. If you are in the area, definitely check this restaurant out.

What an amazing cafe! Server Frank was spot on! The food was divine! My wife and I started off with the duck confit crepes. The mole sauce and watermelon relish paired perfectly (Chef Melissa should sell jars of the relish; it's that good). I had the scallops with braised pork belly and sweet potato puree; wife had the beef ribs; both dishes were amazing. For dessert we had goat cheese cheesecake and key lime white chocolate bread pudding; amazing. Chef Melissa even went the extra mile and made a special "Happy Birthday" plate for my wife. Highly recommend.

Such a nice atmosphere and romantic. Waiter was very helpful and friendly. The food was so amazing, definitely worth the price. Luckily they offer half portions if you want to save a little. I had the specials, a diver scallop with corn soup and arctic char. Nice cocktails and great tasting bread!

We walked in on an extremely busy Friday night with no reservation. The hostess greeted us and found us a table anyway. Our waiter, Brian was fantastic. He described the specials well. Two people in our party had the pork chop special. It was amazing. Brian was personable and didn’t rush us through the meal. We will return again. Wonderful chef and staff. Thanks Melissa!!

Fish stew! Sounds odd, but this a delicious seafood burst in your mouth with a delightful red broth. Ordered twice in a week! Kevin in the bar was a great server! Live music and super cute outside eating area, but the food is the highlight! Don’t miss this experience, and no matter how full you are, get the flourless chocolate cake!